JSF Base Decision Put Off Till Spring
We will have to wait a few more months to see the final EIS document on basing the navy’s new Joint Strike Fighter planes on the West Coast .The US Navy’s decision on home basing the squadron was expected to be finalized by the end of 2013. But Ted Brown, spokesperson for the US Navy, says the government shutdown postponed the decision on which location to pick – Lemoore or El Centro.
The draft EIS released last winter had given the nod to Lemoore over El Centro for the 100 plane base. Now we are awaiting the final EIS report.The Secretary of the Navy will be making the final decision 30 days after the final EIS release.
Earlier in November the El Centro City Council agreed to contribute $10,000 to the Imperial Valley United for Joint Strike Fighter Home basing Coalition to increase their lobbying efforts for the basing of the F35C Squadron in El Centro.
Corn falls to $4.12 a bushel in the futures market for December delivery.
Lowest price for gasoline in the state is near Tracy where a Safeway station is selling regular for $3.17. Nine stations in the state are selling gas for under $3.20 a gallon today says Gas Buddy.
The price of WTI oil has dropped to $92.99 for December delivery compared to $108 this time in September.
October New Home Sales
Tulare: New home sales volume is up 20.5% in Oct 2013(53 homes) compared 44 homes sold in Oct 2012.
SLO County: New Home Sales in SLO County jumped to 38 in Oct 2013 compared to just 8 in Oct 2012.
Existing Home Sales: Tulare saw 325 home sales in October compared to 372 this time in 2012, a 12.6% decrease. Median home price increased 15.7% to $155,000 from $134,000 in Oct 2012.
SLO County Existing Sales dropped 16.5% to 248 in Oct 2013 from 297 sold in Oct 2012.The median price increased 15.55% to $439,000 from $380,000 in Oct 2012.
Pucker Up: California’s tangerine crop is expected to be up 4% from last year with this year’s crop pegged at at 27.0 million cartons. The rest of the state citrus crop is estimated to be same as last year.